Preconception care

The primary aim of preconception and interconception care is to improve maternal health and birth outcome for mother, infant and family through prevention and interventions. Preconception care is defined by interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman's health through prevention and management. These interventions focus on risk factors that can be modified and/or eliminated prior to conception or in early pregnancy in order to impact overall pregnancy health and birth outcome. There is strong evidence for daily consumption of adequate amounts of folic acid prior to conception and the first trimester of pregnancy in reducing the risk for neural tube defect (NTDs). The incidence of chronic medical disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity has steadily increased over the past several decades in reproductive age women. Women on angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should discontinue the medication prior to pregnancy because of the teratogenicity associated with the drug.

Duke Scholars

Author Haywood Laverne Brown Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine